Sarkaria Commission & Federal Relations in India: An Overview

Abstract

The way in which Governors had used their discretionary powers to serve the interests of the Centre in appointment of a Chief Minister as by Governor Tapase in Haryana and Governor Jagmohan in appointing G.M. Shah as the Chief Minister by dismissing the Government of N.T. Rama Rao by Governor Ram Lal in 1984 or in reservation of Bills passed by the State legislature for the consideration of the President, had come in for a very sharp criticism. In some cases particular individuals were appointed as Governors in disregard of the opposition by the Chief Minister. The Srinagar conclave’ document therefore charged that Governor had frequently acted in violation of the spirit of the constitution and asked for an end to their discretionary power. The Commission took note of these violations and partisan working and also of their continuing active role in politics in some cases. It found that 60 percent of the Governors had taken active part in politics, many of them immediately prior to their appointment. Appointment of eminent persons shows a steep fall from 1980 onwards. While a recommendation was made for a suitable amendment to ensure that a Governor is selected following effective consultation with the Chief Minister of the State, for the rest it advised about development of healthy conventions. The present research paper highlights various suggestions made by Sarkaria Commission in the perspective of federal relations in India.